Heat-dissipating fin assembly and assembling method thereof

ABSTRACT

A heat-dissipating fin assembly including a first fin and a second fin is provided. Each of the first fin and the second fin respectively includes a body, a bending part and a connecting part. The bending part is bent from an end of the body to form a turning portion along a predetermined direction. The connecting part, located near a turning portion of the bending part from the end of the body, extends opposite to the predetermined direction. When the first fin is connected to the second fin, the connecting part of the first fin is connected with the second fin. Also, an assembling method of the heat-dissipating fin assembly is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)on Patent Application No(s). 096118928, filed in Taiwan, Republic ofChina on May 28, 2007, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat-dissipating fin assembly and anassembling method thereof. In particular, the heat-dissipating finassembly, and the assembling method thereof capable of producing lesswaste material during manufacturing process and maintaining a stablestructure, a controlled size and a perfectly fit connection with otherheat-dissipating structures.

2. Description of the Related Art

With technological development, electronic products are being requiredmore and more functions. As electronic products are developed to providebetter performance, the amount and integration of required electroniccomponents increases, thus it raises more heat. Therefore,heat-dissipating efficiency directly affects reliability and lifetime ofthe electronic components and products.

A conventional heat-dissipating method is to utilize fins as aheat-dissipating device. Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the conventional fin1 is a body 10, and when the fin 1 is formed by stamping, two cuttingportions 11 are cut off at two ends of the body 10, respectively. Aportion of the body 10 is bent to form a protruded fastening member 12.As shown in FIG. 1C, the fastening member 12 is a hook structure. Thefastening member 12 has an opening 13 corresponding to the body 10. Whenthe two fins 1 are arranged adjacently, the fastening member 12 of onefin 1 is buckled the opening 13 of the other fin 1, allowing multiplefins 1 to be assembled to form a fin assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, another conventional fin 2 is shown. When thefin 2 is formed by stamping, two cutting portions 21 are cut off at twoends of the body 20, respectively. A portion of the body 20 is bent toform a first fastening member 22 and a second fastening member 23. Asshown in FIG. 2C, the first fastening member 22 is bent and protrudedfrom the body 20, and the first fastening member 22 is an annularstructure. The second fastening member 23 is formed on the other side ofthe first fastening member 22 facing opposite to the body 20. The secondfastening member 23 is a plate structure. When two fins 2 are arrangedadjacently, the first fastening member 12 of one fin 2 is buckled thesecond fastening member 23 of the other fin 2, allowing multiple fins 2to be assembled to form a fin assembly.

The described fins 1, 2 are formed and produce cutting portion 11, 21,which become waste materials. Therefore, it increases material costs. Inaddition, the connection between the fins is not completely and firmlybuckled since there is a space therebetween. The fins may fall off anddecrease structural intensity of the entire fin assembly. Furthermore,the space between the fins causes floating solder between othercomponents and the fin assembly, and it decreases heat-dissipatingefficiency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the objective of the present invention is to provide aheat-dissipating fin assembly and assembling method thereof with lesswaste material, enhanced structural intensity of the entire finassembly, and enhanced firm connection with other connecting components.

The present invention provides a heat-dissipating fin assembly. Theheat-dissipating fin assembly includes a first fin and a second fin.Each of the first fin and the second fin includes a body, a bending partand a connecting part. The bending part is bent from an end of the bodyalong a predetermined direction to form a turning portion. Theconnecting part, located near the turning portion of the bending partfrom the end of the body, extends opposite to the predetermineddirection. When the first fin is connected to the second fin, theconnecting part of the first fin is connected with the second: fin.

The present invention provides an assembling method for theheat-dissipating fin assembly. The step includes: stamping a sheetmaterial to form a first fin and a second fin, wherein each of the firstfin and the second fin includes a body, a bending part and a connectingpart; the bending part, bent from an end of the body along apredetermined direction to form a turning point to form a turningportion; the connecting part, near the turning portion of the bendingpart from the end of the body, extending opposite to the predetermineddirection; arranging the first fin and the second fin straight andupright in order; and connecting the first fin with the second fin,wherein the connecting part of the first fin is connected with thesecond fin.

As described, the heat-dissipating fin assembly and the assemblingmethod thereof of the present invention is accomplished by welding thearranged fins, arranged by a driving tool, after the stamping of thefins. Therefore, the heat-dissipating fin assembly includes an enhancedstructure, which will not easily fall off. Additionally, when theheat-dissipating fin assembly is welded to other components, floatingsolder can be eliminated.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading thesubsequent detailed description and examples with references made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front view of a conventional fin;

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of the fin in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a partially enlarged view of portion A of the fin in FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2A is a front view of another conventional fin;

FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of the fin in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a partially-enlarged view of portion B of the fin in FIG. 2B;

FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of aheat-dissipating fin assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged view of portion C of theheat-dissipating fin assembly in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a schematic illustration of an another embodiment of theheat-dissipating fin assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of portion D of theheat-dissipating fin assembly in FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A heat-dissipating fin assembly and an assembling method thereof areprovided with relevant figures.

Referring to FIGS. 3A to 3B, FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of anembodiment of the heat-dissipating fin assembly of the presentinvention, and FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged view of portion C of theheat-dissipating fin assembly in FIG. 3A. The heat-dissipating finassembly 3 includes a first fin 3 a and a second fin 3 b. Each of thefirst fin 3 a and the second fin 3 b includes a body 30 a, 30 b, abending part 31 a, 31 b and a connecting part 32 a, 32 b. The bendingpart 31 a, 31 b is formed by bending an end of the body 30 a, 30 b alonga predetermined direction N. The connecting part 32 a, 32 b is locatednear a turning portion T of the bending part 31 a, 31 b in the end ofthe body 30 a, 30 b and extends opposite to the predetermined directionN. When the first fin 3 a is connected to the second fin 3 b, theconnecting part 32 b of the second fin 3 b is connected with the firstfin 3 a.

The connecting part 32 a, 32 b extends opposite to the predetermineddirection N to form an end including a welding surface 33 a, 33 b. Thebending part 31 a, 31 b includes an end surface. When the first fin 3 ais connected with the second fin 3 b, the end surface of the bendingpart 31 a of the first fin 3 a is connected with the welding surface 33b of the connecting part 32 b of the second fin 3 b. Because the bendingpart 31 a, 31 b is bent from the body 30 a, 30 b to form a guiding angleor a round angle, the welding surface 33 a, 33 b is required to attachto the bending part 31 a, 31 b of the adjacent fin, and is fixed theretoby laser spot welding or argon welding, spot gluing and adhering toassemble the heat-dissipating fin assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, another heat-dissipating fin assembly 4 isprovided. The connecting part 42 a, 42 b extends from the turningportion T of the bending part 41 a, 41 b and protrudes from the turningportion T. An end of the bending part 41 a, 41 b includes an indentationdisposed with respect to the connecting part 42 a, 42 b of the adjacentfirst fin 4 a and the adjacent second fin 4 b. When the fin 4 a isconnected with the second fin 4 b, the connecting part 42 b of thesecond fin 4 b is disposed with respect to the indentation 43 a of thefirst fin 4 a and is connected with the first fin 4 a. The first fin 4 ais connected with the second fin 4 b by welding (for example, laser spotwelding or argon welding), a spot gluing or adhering to be assembled.The first fin 3 a, 4 a and the second fin 3 b, 4 b is made of copper,aluminum, iron, magnesium or alloys thereof.

The present invention further provides a method of assembling theheat-dissipating fin assembly. The steps include first, stamping a sheetmaterial which is made of copper, aluminum, iron, magnesium or alloysthereof to form a first fin 3 a, 4 a and a second fin 3 b, 4 b by a toolmachine (for example, a stamping machine). Each of the first fin 3 a, 4a and the second fin 3 b, 4 b includes a body 30 a, 30 b, 40 a, 40 b, abending part 31 a, 31 b, 41 a, 41 b and a connecting part 32 a, 32 b, 42a, 42 b, respectively. The bending part 31 a, 31 b, 41 a, 41 b is formedby bending an end of the body 30 a, 30 b, 40 a, 40 b in a predetermineddirection N. The connecting part 32 a, 32 b, 42 a, 42 b is located neara turning portion T of the bending part 31 a, 31 b, 41 a, 41 b in theend of the body 30 a, 30 b, 40 a, 40 b and extends opposite to thepredetermined direction N. Next, a tool is driven to straighten uprightand arrange the first fin 3 a, 4 a and the second fin 3 b, 4 b. At last,the first fin 3 a, 4 a is connected with the second fin 3 b, 4 b. Theconnecting part 32 a, 42 a of the first fin 3 a, 4 a is directlyconnected with the second fin 3 b, 4 b or arranged with the second fin 3b, 4 b with an appropriate indentation therebetween. By welding (forexample, laser spot welding or argon welding), spot gluing or adhering,the first fin 3 a, 4 a can be assembled to the second fin 3 b, 4 b.

As described, the heat-dissipating fin assembly 3, 4 and the assemblingmethod thereof of the present invention are implemented by arranging thefins formed by stamping, with a driving tool, and fixing the fins bywelding. Therefore, the assembled heat-dissipating fin assemblies 3, 4have enhanced intensity, the entire fin assembly will not fall offeasily, and the size thereof is well controlled. When theheat-dissipating fin assembly 3, 4 of the present invention is welded toother heat-dissipating components, floating solder can be eliminated,thus it increases heat-conducting efficiency. Additionally, material isfully utilized, subsequently reducing waste material, thus decreasingcosts.

While the present invention has been described by way of example and interms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the presentinvention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended tocover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would beapparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of theappended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

1. A heat-dissipating fin assembly, comprising a first fin and a secondfin, wherein each of the first fin and the second fin comprises: a body;a bending part bent from an end of the body along a predetermineddirection to form a turning portion; and a connecting part, located nearthe turning portion of the bending part in the end of the body,extending opposite to the predetermined direction; when the first fin isconnected to the second fin, the connecting part of the first fin isconnected with the second fin.
 2. The heat-dissipating fin assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting part extends opposite to thepredetermined direction to form an end comprising a welding surface. 3.The heat-dissipating fin assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein thebending part further comprises an end surface, and when the first fin isconnected with the second fin, the end surface of the bending part ofthe first fin is connected with the welding surface of the connectingpart of the second fin.
 4. The heat-dissipating fin assembly as claimedin claim 2, wherein the bending part is bent from the body to form aguiding angle or a round angle.
 5. The heat-dissipating fin assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting part extends from the turningportion of the bending part and outwardly protrudes from the turningportion.
 6. The heat-dissipating fin assembly as claimed in claim 5,wherein an end of the bending part comprises an indentation disposedwith respect to the connecting part of an adjacent fin.
 7. Theheat-dissipating fin assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein when thefirst fin is connected with the second fin, the connecting part of thesecond fin is disposed with respect to the indentation of the first finand is connected with the first fin.
 8. The heat-dissipating finassembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fin is connected withthe second fin by welding, spot gluing or adhering onto the connectingpart of the first fin and the second fin.
 9. The heat-dissipating finassembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the welding comprises laser spotwelding or argon welding.
 10. The heat-dissipating fin assembly asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first fin and the second fin comprisecopper, aluminum, iron, magnesium or alloys thereof.
 11. A method ofassembling the heat-dissipating fin, comprising steps of: stamping asheet material to form a first fin and a second fin, wherein each of thefirst fin and the second fin comprises a body, a bending part and aconnecting part the bending part is bent from an end of the body to forma turning portion along a predetermined direction, and the connectingpart, near the turning portion of the bending part at the end of thebody, extends opposite to the predetermined direction; arranging thefirst fin and the second fin straight and upright in order; andconnecting the first fin with the second fin, wherein the connectingpart of the first fin is connected with the second fin.
 12. The methodas claimed in claim 11, wherein the sheet material is stamped by a toolmachine, or a stamping machine.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 11,wherein the connecting part extends opposite to the predetermineddirection to form an end comprising a welding surface.
 14. The method asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the bending part further comprises an endsurface, and when the first fin is connected with the second fin, theend surface of the bending part of the first fin is connected with thewelding surface of the connecting part of the second fin.
 15. The methodas claimed in claim 13, wherein the bending part is bent from the bodyto form a guiding angle or a round angle.
 16. The method as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the connecting part extends from the turning portionof the bending part and outwardly protrudes from the turning portion.17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein an end of the bendingpart comprises an indentation disposed with respect to the connectingpart of an adjacent fin, and when the first fin is connected with thesecond fin, the connecting part of the second fin is disposed withrespect to the indentation of the first fin and is connected with thefirst fin.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first finis connected with the second fin by welding, spot gluing or adhering,onto the connecting part of the first fin and the second fin.
 19. Themethod as claimed in claim 18, wherein the welding comprises laser spotwelding or argon welding.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe first fin and the second fin comprise copper, aluminum, iron,magnesium or alloys thereof.